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ALO Website Review, sample
PBS Website Review: Napoleon, A Documentary
Napoleon Bonaparte is a famous historical figure who is acknowledged in dozens of books and several film documentaries. Napoleon continues to be one of the most fascinating figures of the twentieth century. One film documentary in particular that portrays Napoleon very well is the PBS production called Napoleon that aired in November 2000. PBS then created an excellent Website, which not only breaks down the program into many categories such as the episode guide of the documentary and special features but also displays pictures and information about Napoleon's life.
Like the documentary, the PBS Website broke down the major events in Napoleon's life into episodes. The first episode called “To Destiny,” recounts the story of Napoleon's rise from Corsican obscurity to the leader of France and how he became a hero to the French people. It also tells of his love for Josephine Beauharnais who did not at first return his love. In 1796, The Directory appointed Napoleon to lead a French army against the forces of Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. He marched into Italy and was victorious in a series of battles, which crushed the Austrian troop's threat to France. He also went to Egypt to disrupt trade with Britain and India to protect French trade interests. Although he was defeated, he kept the reports out the press and soon became very well known.
The second episode, “Mastering Luck,” accounts for his rise to absolute power from a triumphant General to first Consul to Emperor of France. It also describes his remarkable achievements, “From the Napoleonic Code and the Bank of France, to bridges, roads, and canals - as well as the tyrannical nature of his rule and the violent opposition of most of Europe.” After the legislature dissolved the Directory, Napoleon soon became a dictatorial power as the first consul of the French republic. He kept many of the changes that had come with the Revolution instead of returning France back to the days of the Bourbon kings. He supported laws that would strengthen the central government and achieve some goals of the Revolution through stabilizing the economy and equalizing the taxes. He became extremely popular among the French.
The third episode, “The Summit of Ambition,” explains Napoleon's conquest of most of Europe in a series of brilliant triumphs, including his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. He created a French army that was powerful and was able to crush the Third Coalition. He was proud of his troops and his troops were proud to be a part of Napoleon's command. It also preludes about his mistake of invading Spain.
The fourth episode, “The End,” describes Napoleon's downfall, including the invasion and retreat from Russia, and his final battles, in which all of the main European powers formed a coalition against him. He is then exiled to Elba, but returns to France after just ten months, only to be defeated for the last time at the battle of Waterloo. Napoleon spends his final days banished on St. Helena, an island far out in the Atlantic, where he writes his memoirs and reinvents his legend. The PBS Website has all the major events and turning points in Napoleon's life, but has little detail of its effect on France and the rest of Europe.
In addition, the PBS Website has special features that you can browse through such as watching video clips of Napoleon in different battles and writing responses to the many questions that are posted. There are also categories you can click on about Napoleon's life which are very interesting. You can click on the subsections of Napoleon and Josephine, The Man and the Myth, Politics in Napoleon's Time, and Napoleon at War. They provide pictures and background information concerning his life and the world during his lifetime. They also have an in depth interview with the maker of the film, David Grubin. He talks about the actual filming of the documentary and also about his personal views on what he thought of Napoleon as a person and leader. The Website has sneak previews of scenes during the program as well. The Special Features section along with the interview with Grubin is intriguing and fascinating. The PBS Website on Napoleon is remarkable with its interactive components.
A film documentary that portrays Napoleon very well is the PBS production called Napoleon that aired in November 2000. PBS then created an excellent Website, which not only breaks down the program into many categories such as the episode guide of the documentary and special features but also displays pictures and information about Napoleon's life. People are so interested in Napoleon because he rose to power, restoring order after the chaos of the French Revolution, but in the end, did he preserve the values of the French Revolution, or did he crush them? Grubin, the maker of the PBS documentary says, “People still argue about that today. That's why he continues to be a controversial, and fascinating figure.”
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